Not Giving Up

It's hard not to feel utterly discouraged at the state of our economy. It's even harder not to feel frustrated and angry at what's happening to our education system, teachers especially. Some of the hardest-working and most compassionate people I know are being demonized by public sentiment and forced to consistently defend their position in public schools. I'm proud of the teachers for whom a 9-5 work day doesn't exist. For those who dedicate their time during weeknights and weekends and constantly give of themselves to help better the lives of their students. These people form the bedrock of our society. They are the ones who prepare younger people for the demands of the 21st century. They are the ones who help create the next generation of story-tellers, decision-makers, thinkers, synthesizers of information, and leaders. Why must we hold them in such contempt? They haven't failed us. We've failed them.